Churro stall blaze at Ramadan bazaar sparks concerns over fire safety for small food vendors

With the festive season fast approaching, food vendors are pulling out all the stops to maximise their profits. The past 18 days have been anything but uneventful, from site rental disputes to stalls being wrecked by thunderstorms. And now, tragedy has struck Adicto Churros Melaka after their stall caught fire.

On 13 Mar 2025, a TikTok video surfaced on Adicto Churros Melaka’s account, offering a chilling snippet from their live stream the previous day.

In the clip, the vendor was casually engaging with viewers at their Taman Semabok Perdana Ramadan bazaar stall on 12 Mar — when suddenly, flames erupted from the wok frying their churros, quickly reaching the ceiling of the tent.

Thankfully, no one was injured. The vendor reacted swiftly, abandoning the stall (and his phone) the moment the fire broke out. Meanwhile, viewers on TikTok live remained, watching the terrifying blaze unfold in real time.

Rather than seeing this as a setback, Adicto Churros took it as a test of resilience during the holy month and remarkably resumed business the very next day. It is believed that rainwater, which had been pooling on the tent’s roof, suddenly dripped into the scorching hot oil, triggering the fire.

This incident brings us to a crucial yet often overlooked issue — restaurant fire safety. While much emphasis is placed on food hygiene and handling, fire safety is just as vital.

In Malaysia, it is recommended that every 500 square feet of workspace be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher. This causes food stall vendors to probably overlook this issue, forgoing the extra step completely as they’re only operating in small spaces.

This recent event serves as a stark reminder that fire hazards should never be underestimated, especially when working with hot oil and flammable materials in an open setting.

With that, we urge Ramadan bazaar vendors to remain vigilant. The combination of sweltering daytime heat and unpredictable nightly thunderstorms makes for risky conditions — so take every precaution to ensure a safe and successful season. 

Kajang Prison inmates’ RM12 kuih Raya takes social media by storm — sells out in just 2 weeks